Chapter Two

The girl started to stand up, and so as Azrael. Azrael saw her signaled something to the police who brought down their guns and turned off their sirens before they moved away from them. No wonder why Demons huddled around because a Greater Demon was present.

Azrael studied Namaah, more known as Nae to her kingpins. She looks like a fugitive from a different time hiding away because of her clothes. All-black hooded cloak and leather.

“What are you doing here?” Nae demanded from her while pulling her from the middle of the street as the traffic flow started going back to normal, she looks at Azrael with full incredulity.

“I should be the one asking you that,” Azrael replied while brushing off the dirt on her pants and shirt.

Nae examined her again and then glances over the place before beckoning Azrael to follow her. Azrael doesn’t hold prejudices against Demons, even though they were sometimes annoying, but she can’t say she was fond of them either.

She followed Nae to what looked like a small apartment from the outside, Azrael raised her eyebrows when they entered her place. It looks cozy and somehow expensive compared to its shabby appearance in its exteriors. Azrael inspected the place while wondering what Nae’s been up to. She picks up a knife from a table pinned to a wall, while flipping it, she asked, “Why are you here?”

Nae fixes her gaze on Azrael first before answering, she is clearly weighing her words towards Azrael as she had a reputation of having a very short string of patience, “I’m here because of your brother.” she replied while still looking at Azrael who handily plays with the knife.

Azrael frowned for a moment and said, “Wow,” she put back the knife on the table and walk to the glass windows of the house, “so Lucifer’s building a legion of Demons here now?” she said and turned to Nae. She looked dumbfounded that she did not say anything, Azrael started to speak again, “Are you the commander of those Demons? That chase was lame by the way.” she pointed to Nae.

“No,” Nae uttered slowly as she realizes what Azrael meant. She thinks she works for her older brother, the King of Hell, Lucifer, “I don’t do that anymore. I was…” she paused as if looking for the exact words, “I was sort of pardoned. I am actually here to get rid of those Demons you were talking about.”

“What?” Azrael exclaimed, bewildered. That’s unusual. Namaah is a devoted ally of Lucifer. She has also been the war leader of the Avestan, a race of female warriors descended from Satrina that have been exiled from Heaven. A great warrior and admired leader, forged in the bowels of Hell to torture the guilty for all of eternity, Nae is an arch-demon having served for eons as one of Hell’s head torturers.

“I was trying to keep them out of here. Those rogue Demons were trying to attack Constanta since the other day.” Nae replied and gestured while explaining.

“Aren’t all Demons rogue?” Azrael said under her breath while flashing a poker face. Nae rolled her eyes at Azrael, after billions of years she never change, she thought. Sarcastic has a dry sense of humor and always had that chip on her shoulder. She has the right to be though, she’s the Angel of Death after all. One of the most powerful beings, one who will always win a war and one who always stands on her feet.

Azrael laughed at Nae’s reaction. No one will ever think that this girl masked a hideous form. Straight honey blonde hair, porcelain skin, and perfect heart-shaped lips, but if you would look closer into her forest green eyes, only then you’ll notice that it was soulless and so is she. She’s strikingly attractive, beautiful, and with a finely-curved athletic figure.

Azrael ignores her first question as she knew Nae will eventually lie and lie and lie, “How long have you been here?” she then queried.

“Three years if you count it in human,” she replied and sat down at one of the chairs at the dining table, just across the living room. Azrael may go back and forth in the human world, and she can still say that it wasn’t small after all.

Azrael shrugged, whatever she is doing here, she doesn’t care, she has her own quest to do. She lounged on Nae’s brown leather sofa and started to think. She’s becoming desperate on how to even start her pursuit.

She was snap out of her thoughts when Nae spoke, “You know by now, one of your siblings will come here to take you home.” she said after drinking from a glass of wine she opened earlier.

Azrael looked up at the ceiling, she knew that too well and if one finds out she’s here for a reason that is wrong for them, they will do anything to take her back home. They’ll eventually persuade her to stop and be righteous. She realizes that Nae said she’s here because of her brother, not Lucifer, but maybe Yerachmiel, the Angel of the Earth.

“Not if you won’t tell them,” Azrael said, her voice becoming muffled as she covers her mouth as spoke by the back of her hand. She looks at Nae with a bright smile, Nae looks back at her as if they’ll start throwing a truce between each other. Azrael knew her for a very long time and she knows about what she does best too.

“I won’t if you tell me why you’re here,” she replied with an uplifted mood in her voice. While staring back at Nae, Azrael started to catch on to something. Speaking of brothers, maybe destiny has really helped her out. Nae will surely betray her, but not if it involves her own blood, her own brother.

Azrael smirked as if a brilliant idea just pop out of her head, “When was the last time you saw your exiled brother?” Nae’s expression started to change from gleeful to gloomy.

“I don’t know how exactly long,” Nae replied in a slow monotone. She wasn’t sure why Azrael is asking but she expected she have come to make a bargain out of it.

“What if I tell you...” Azrael grinned widely, “that you can see him again?” she said in a confident and enthusiastic voice. Her face lights up too.

“I can’t, you knew that. No one gets out of there, not even you.” Nae defended but hope can be seen in her eyes. It was a hint for Azrael to continue swerving Nae’s feelings.

Azrael shrugged and gently stroked her Blade placed as a necklace on her chest. The Blade spelled out her true name, and other things besides, “The Prince of Hell is not in the Void.” she halted and formed a curve in her lips, “He’s here.”

Nae felt a jolt in her spine because of Azrael’s remorseless, wicked expression combined with her ethereal and rough voice. There’s a reason why most of the creatures who stand in front of her get weak on their knees with just one look,

“How would I know that you’re not lying?” Nae said and stood up. Her expression is auspicious and hopeful.

Azrael stood up and look straight into Nae’s eyes, “Because he wasn’t struck by my Blade, honey.” she breaks her gaze and moved to the windows to glance over the old buildings outside the apartment, “I hope that’s enough reason for you to believe me.” Azrael doesn’t trust Nae, that’s the truth. But she would do anything to use as leverage and a tool to achieve what she wants. She doesn’t know what Bernael looks like and using Nae would make things easier for her.

Nae thought about Azrael’s words carefully. She’s right, Bernael wouldn’t be in the Void if he wasn’t struck by the Angel of Death’s Blade, Azrael’s Blade, the one on her neck. But she has to be careful believing Azrael because she doesn’t know what she really wants, “What do you want me to do?” Nae asked while looking at Azrael. She’s a walking scheme, her angelic sapphire blue eyes are just as tempting as her words.

Azrael smirked a success, she turned and faces Nae, “I want you to help me find him.”